30 Mar 2012 - Source: NZ PGA
The Prime Minister John Key and actor Don Cheadle went head to head today in the NZPGA Pro-Am championship seeding round at one of New Zealand’s toughest and most scenic golf courses, Jack’s Point. And while both players shot 93 off the stick the Prime Minister narrowly claimed the victory on handicap.
Don Cheadle tees off of the par 3 7th at Jack’s Point
However it was World amateur No. 1 Lydia Ko that led the way in terms of outright scoring with an impressive four under par 68 and 40 stableford points.
Previous NZPGA champions Sir Bob Charles (’61, ’79, ’80) and Bob Glading (’49) both shot under their ages in a great display of golfing finesse.
Mark Richardson claimed the bragging rights for the retired sports stars after shooting a very respectable round of 80.
The seeding round will be used to help determine the pairings for tomorrow when the 62 amateurs (friends, sponsors, celebrities) will join the top 62 professionals that made the cut. Each pro-am pairing will play as a two-ball, best ball team over the final two rounds. The winning pair will claim the inaugural NZPGA Pro-Am Championship title while the pro will walk away with $50,000 in prize money.
Tournament director Michael Glading has been thrilled with how much interest the Pro-Am format has generated so far and believes that the new format will help to establish the NZPGA Pro-Am Championship as a marquee event on the international calendar.
“When you have international celebrities like Don Cheadle playing alongside a top golfing professional like Brendan Jones, and then mix in the stunning scenery of Jack’s Point and The Hills you create golfing magic.”
The first group is due to tee off tomorrow at 7.50am at The Hills
PHOTO CREDITS: Michael Thomas / Photosport
